An MQ-9 Reaper sits on the flight line at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 3, 2014.The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Staff Sgt. John Bainter)

Commentaries

What we are really trying to accomplish with new Air Force inspection system

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Greg Buchanan
  • 919th Special Operations Wing IG office
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  

As my wing prepares for their first Capstone event, I want to ensure leadership down through the lowest ranking Airman understands the intent of the program.  The program is not about completing communicators in the management internal control tool program to satisfy major command or inspector general inspectors.  The program is not about closing deficiencies in evaluation management system as quickly as possible so a unit does not look bad.  In the new Air Force Inspection System, validating compliance does not reside with the command, IG or even the wing IG. 

Validating compliance resides with unit commanders at every level of the organization from a unit commander to the wing commander.  AFI 1-2, Commander’s Responsibilities, paragraph 3.4.3. states “Commanders have the legal authority and responsibility to inspect their subordinates and subordinate units.”  AFI 90-201, The Air Force Inspection System, paragraph 2.19.2.1 further clarifies this, “The responsibility for detecting non-compliance rests with the wing commander, subordinate commanders and supervisors.”

MICT is a unitcommander self-assessment tool.  The commander should be reviewing MICT results, IGEMS deficiencies, staff assistance visit reports and other quality assurance tools on a periodic basis to answer three basic questions:

Where is my organization weak?  Every organization has areas that are not operating at peak levels or areas that are not compliant.

What am I doing about fixing these areas?  At this point, it should be evident that commanders must review MICT/SAV observations and IGEMS deficiencies.  The commander may make the decision to delay fixing issues based on his priorities, risk perception and resource allocation.  The critical point here is that the commander has situational awareness and is making deliberate decisions regarding these weak areas.

What areas have I not reviewed that may have undetected weaknesses?  The commander must review current indicators to ensure he has analyzed the breadth of unit operations.  If there are areas he has not sufficiently reviewed, he should make a deliberate decision to 1) review the areas 2) request help in assessing these areas or 3) assume risk due to priorities to not review the areas.    

So what does your wing inspector general inspections office do?  We provide situational awareness tools to commanders at all levels in the organization to assist with answering these three questions.   We provide overall monitoring of the Wing’s MICT program. 

We also evaluate how well unit commanders are self-assessing their programs through IGEMS inspections.  We are not manned to inspect everything.  Instead, we focus our inspections based on wing commander guidance and data in areas that may have undetected risk.  We also complete congressionally mandated inspections and execute wing-wide exercises. 

Do you understand the intent of the new Air Force Inspection System and your role in it?  You are a critical party.  Your Wing IGI is here to assist you.

For further information, here is a list of the top 10 items Airmen should know about the Air Force inspection system.